BLANDFORD Town Council has pledged its support to a blind mother of three fighting for a pedestrian crossing on Bournemouth Road.

Emelye Purser, 34, made a personal appeal to a meeting of all councillors at Blandford's town hall for their backing in her fight for a crossing for children travelling to Blandford St Mary Primary School.

The young mum was knocked down by a car while crossing the road shortly before Christmas in 2006, while pushing her baby son, Ernie, in his buggy.

"It's great that the town council are supporting us. My job now is to get people out of their cars, walking to work and to school, and showing the need for a crossing," said Emelye.

Spiralling petrol prices and warm summer days had provided the ideal climate for her campaign, said Mrs Purser.

Judy Baker, the head teacher of Blandford St Mary Primary School, joined Mrs Purser in her address to councillors.

"One issue is that 82 of the 159 pupils at the school live on the Blandford side of the road and need to get to school," said Mrs Baker.

"There is also a wider issue of people coming to Blandford from Blandford St Mary," she added.

Blandford's councillors voted unanimously in favour of writing to Dorset County Council, the authority with responsibility for highways.

Hall and Woodhouse brewery should also receive a copy of the letter, councillors agreed.

Plans for new homes on the site of the old brewery adjacent to Bournemouth Road may oblige the drinks firm to build pedestrian crossings to cope with the extra traffic generated.

Funding for the crossings under a so-called Section 106 agreement are still under negotiation between the brewer and the planning authority, North Dorset District Council.